The Hobart College lacrosse team will open Northeast Conference play Saturday, March 19 at Sacred Heart University. The start of the game has been moved up to noon to try to avoid forecasted thunderstorms in Fairfield, Connecticut.
 
The contest will be broadcast live on WEOS-FM (89.5/90.3). It will be webcast on NEC Front Row with live stats on sacredheartpioneers.com.
 
Hobart enters the game with a 2-2 record, looking to halt a two-game skid. The final game of a three-game road trip, the Statesmen dropped a 15-12 decision at then No. 9 Cornell on March 1 and fell 18-16 at then No. 14 Syracuse on March 6.
 
Yesterday, Hobart Head Coach Greg Raymond sat down with Ted Baker to record episode 37 of the Hobart Lacrosse Podcast. They talked about the loss to Syracuse, using the 13-days between the SU game and SHU game to rest and refocus, what challenges the Pioneers present and they talk about the team that presents the biggest challenge to capturing a NEC Championship.
 
The Statesmen rank in the top 10 in the nation in turnovers (2nd, 13.5/g), scoring offense (5th, 16.0 gpg), extra-man offense (5th, .588), points per game (6th, 24.5) and shot percentage (7th, .344). Senior attackman Ryan Archer paces the offense with 21 points on nine goals and a team-high 12 assists. Senior attackman Tommy Mott is second with 17 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Midfielder John Herlihy has scored a team-high 12 goals, including four tallies against both the Big Red and Orange.
 
Following a 14-10 win at UMass-Lowell last Saturday, Sacred Heart is 2-3. Sophomore attackman Morgan O'Reilly has produced at least five points in each of the past three games and leads the Pioneers with 15 goals and 20 points. Sophomore attackman Sal Miccio is right behind him with 19 points on 10 goals and a team-high nine assists.
 
Saturday's showdown will be the 10th meeting between the programs with Hobart holding a 6-3 series lead. The Statesmen have won three straight against the Pioneers, but those three victories have been by a combined four goals. In fact, five of the previous nine Hobart-Sacred Heart games have been decided by two goals or less.